Toothbrush construction



y 1953 M. H. COH'EN 2,637,870

TOOTHBRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1949 Iii/iii! 52 MAX H. COHEN,

' INVENTOR.

HUEBNER, 86' E HL E R, WORREL,

HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL,

A T TORNEVS.

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to toothbrushes and more particularly to .atoothbrush having an integral or separate handle construction andsheetlike wiping and cleansing elements substituted for bristlesheretofore conventionally employed.

The instant invention seeks to overcome the objectionable abrasivecharacteristic of bristle brushes which, particularly at the gum line,scratch and erode the soft tissue thereby causing bleeding, tenderness,raw gum areas and exposed portions at the base oi? the tooth below theenamel. Infection as well as'discomfort due to such attrition is by theinstant construction sought to be avoided.

In addition, it is intended to employ a preferably rigid handle and aseparate, removable massaging or cleaning and wiping portion mostdesirably having elements individually removable for replacement orcleaning. By the instant construction it is intended to eliminate muchof the unsanitary condition attendant on bristle-type toothbrushesresulting from th lodgment of debris and disease-carrying microorganismsbetween the bristles particularly at the base thereof. The removabilityof the individual elements, if desired, facilitates thorough cleansingand permits sterilization of the cleansing members without affecting thehandle where, as is customary, the latter is made of a materialdeformable by heat.

It is particularly sought by the instant construction to providemarginal "points on the cleansing elements which "trail the central ormain body portions of the cleansing elements in use thereby assuringpenetration to otherwise inaccessible recesses in and between the teethand gums while at the same time avoiding rough gouging action. Theincreased flexibility at the corner extremities of the cleansingelements permits the ready bending of the latter to provide wipingsurfaces which improve the emulsifying or" mouth debris and improve thedetergent quality of any cleansing liquid, powder, or paste.

It is the store an object of the invention to provide a new and improvedtoothbrush construction having a simplicity and accessibility of itscomponent parts.

it is another object or" the invention to provide in a construction ofthe desired character described an optionally removable cleansingportion either as a unit or by individual elements.

Another further object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved design for the clean element... individually and collectivelyso that adequate cleansing and massage are simultaneously achieved.

The invention also has among its objects the provision of improvementsover prior art devices heretofore contemplated to accomplish generallysimilar purposes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter setforth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a side view of a toothbrush embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line l l of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a modified form of theinvention.

Figur 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 6i5 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the form of Figures 1 through 4 showingthe relationship and detachability of the cleansing elements and thehandle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated by wayof example but not of limitation a toothbrush embodying a handl I flwhich may be of any desired shape, but as shown has parallel sides iiand i2 and. a rounded end is adjacent to which a number of transverseslots M are arranged in parallel spaced relationship to one another.

The inner portions of the transverse slots are enlarged and arepreferably of cylindrical crosssection designated by the numeral Ill.

The cleansing elements iii are slidably disposed Within the slots it andare formed with a base I! of cylindrical cross-section axially slidablein and corresponding to the configuration of the slots.

The cleansing elements l6 are normally held irictionally within theircorresponding slots. They are moreover formed with convex sides l3 and19 tapering to a point at their upper edges Ell. Thereby a desiredfirmness of the cleansing element adjacent its base is obtained and alsoa feather edge of easy flexibility for massaging and cleansing purposes.

The side edges 22 of the cleansing elements are flared outwardly andpreferably curved or concaved to form a tip portion 23 of maximumflexibility which, during use, trails the main body of the cleansingelement to provide a relatively broad wiping, massaging or scrubbingsurface and including points 24 capable of access to 3 recesses in theteeth and between the teeth and gums.

Relatively vigorous scrubbing action of the main body of the cleansingelements may thereby be accompanied along the edges 22 and the tips 24by an extremely gentle yet efficacious massaging action.

It is to be noted that the extent of flaring of the edges 22 is suchthat the points 24 project laterally to a considerable extent.Preferably, as can be seen most clearly in Figures 4 and 6, said lateralextension of the points 24 extends beyond the least flared side portionsof the respective elements a distance approximately equal to half theeffective vertical height of said elements, thereby enabling them to bebent backward or forward as the brush is moved in a longitudinaldirection relative to its handle.

Transverse movement of the brush as by rolling the same along linesparallel to the plane of L of the cleansing element is moved over thegum area. The reverse rolling movement of the toothbrush likewiseemphasizes assuasive rather than scouring or gouging action.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 showsa handle 50 of any suitable shape, optionally similar to the handle ofthe first embodiment of the invention, which may be provided with anintegrally molded portion of rubber material generally designated at 51comprising a flat base 52 and projecting cleansing elements 53. The base52 may be cemented or removably secured as by any interfitting or splineconstruction of the same and the adjacent handle thereof.

Platforms 55 and 56 may project forwardly of the foremost cleansingelement 51 and the rearmost cleansing element 53 to insulate the teethand gums of the user from direct contact with the handle 50, which ispreferably formed, according to convention, of more rigid material thanthe remainder of the brush. The platforms 55 and 56 may, if desired,form a tubular element entirely surrounding the end 54 of the handle,but however applied thereto the effective cleansing elements 53 and thelike are preferably formed in the same manner as those of the precedingembodiment and accordingly are designated by similar reference numerals.

The cleaning elements may be formed of rubber, as indicated, or anyequivalent material having any desired degree of stiffness to suit therequirements of a user. Because of the feature of removability from thehandle 10, particularly in the first embodiment and if desired also inthe second embodiment, a highly sensitive mouth may be initially treatedwith relatively soft cleansing elements which may be replacedperiodically with cleansing elements of increased stiffness as the mouthbecomes desensitized and improved from the more gentle initial massageand prophylaxis.

This invention features the provision of a new and improved toothbrushdesign including improved cleansing and massaging elements capable ofremoval or replacement and embodying a simplicity of design renderingthe same commercially acceptable and readily manufactured.

Although the invention has been herein shown 4 and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent structures.

The invention having been herein described, what I claim as new anddesire to secur by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toothbrush comprising a handle and a, plurality of generallytrapezoidal sheet-like rubber elements arranged transversely of thehandle at one end thereof in spaced parallel relationship, theimprovement comprising each said sheet-like element having a top edgeand a pair of outwardly concavely curved and flared side edges extendinglaterally approximately half the distance represented by the height ofsaid element, said top and side edges respectively terminating in pointsin a line ofiset laterally from the handle, said top edge beingfeathered, and said edge, together with said side edges, forminglaterally directed points adapted to trail and provide flat massagingsurfaces in a direction substantially normal to the main surfaces ofsaid elements.

2. In a toothbrush comprising a handle and a plurality of generallytrapezoidal sheet-like rubber elements arranged transversely of andupstanding from the handle at one end thereof in spaced parallelrelationship, the improvement comprising said elements each having sideedges upwardly curved and flared, and normally bendable rearwardly andforwardly in use to provide laterally disposed, substantially flatmassaging surfaces trailing parallel to the axis of the handle, and astraight edge most distal from the handle and lying in a plane parallelto the handle and forming points at each end with said side edges.

3. In combination with an elongate handle, toothbrushing elements at oneend of said handle in spaced parallel relationship transversely of thehandle, said elements each comprising a thin upstanding sheet ofhomogeneous rubbery material tapering to a feather edge from the handleto the top edge distal from the handle, the sides of said elements beingsmooth and extending outwardly laterally of the handle, definingconcavely curved side edges terminating at the top edge in laterallyextending points, said points extending beyond the handle a distanceequal to approximately half the length of the element, said points beingflexible and adapted to trail in the direction of reciprocation of thehandle against the teeth of a user, providing massaging surfaces at andparallel to the edges of the handle, penetrating points thereat andmeans for securing said elements to said handle.

MAX H. COHEN.

